Fame is as much a part of American culture as monumental military spending or poor healthcare, it’s just who we are.

Social media has given platforms to incredibly famous people that allow direct communication with their fans and supporters, creating a parasocial relationship where public figures are treated more like friends than strangers. 

This makes celebrity endorsements of political candidates more impactful than ever before as fans can have personal attachments to celebrities and see themselves as politically aligned with them, and therefore more likely to vote in unison with them. This reality, however, can create outrage when the candidate selected is not who fans want it to be. 

Before the internet, an actor or singer could endorse a candidate for public office and if you weren’t listening to the radio or reading about it in the paper, you could not even know about it. 

Social media algorithms have all but ensured that every issue, political or otherwise, that interests you will be in your feed, almost erasing any chance of missing it. 

For better or worse, celebrities play a massive role in American life and are almost unavoidable if you have an internet connection. Therefore, it is a fact that celebrities will use their platforms to speak up about issues that they care about, or at least want you to think they care about, and it is foolish to get angry or feel betrayed when it happens. 

Celebrities can be out of touch, they can have no real understanding of policy or its possible outcomes and still be free to endorse any candidate they please, because this is America and despite our many problems, we still pride ourselves on our first amendment rights. 

No matter how big of a fan you are, you do not know these people and to take it as a personal affront when you disagree politically or otherwise, is only setting yourself up for disappointment. 

If your favorite artist endorses a candidate or likes a post that makes you feel upset, understand that no one is required to agree with you on every issue in order for you to enjoy their art. 

You are free to stop supporting anyone at any time for any reason, but to use such instances as opportunities to broadcast your moral superiority over a stranger on the internet is not the answer. 

As a general rule of thumb, it is better to keep your expectations for public figures; politicians and celebrities alike, to a minimum because they will inevitably disappoint you. 

They are only human and are just as likely to mess up as the rest of us, only their every move is under the microscope and every mistake is amplified. 

Be an informed voter and be open to new information. Allow your mind to be changed by new information and work to recognize misinformation so that your vote goes towards what you believe in, and not what someone else does. 

Ignore celebrities or don’t, but politics will affect you whether you pay it any mind or not. 

But of course, that’s just one man’s opinion. 

Categories: Opinion